A serial rogue trader in Ipswich has been issued with enforcement action by Suffolk Trading Standards after fresh concerns were raised by a customer.

Ipswich Star: Matthew Hicks said the enforcement order was a message to rogue traders. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNMatthew Hicks said the enforcement order was a message to rogue traders. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

Paul English, previously known as Paul Bagley, of Thackery Road in Ipswich was due before Norwich County Court on Monday where an enforcement order was issued, but failed to attend.

Trading Standards were contacted by a resident who had concerns over landscaping work at their home by English, who currently trades under the banner New Look Landscapes.

He has now been given an order which prevents English, and anyone acting on his behalf, from misleading customers about the price, quality of work or completion timescale, and requires him to provide contract documents to customers before starting work.

The order is in place indefinitely, and means that any breaches of this could mean he is in contempt of court and could face a jail sentence.

Matthew Hicks, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for environment, public protection and broadband, said: “The action taken by Suffolk Trading Standards sends out a clear message that they will use all the tools in their armoury to ensure that rogues like Paul English are prevented from deceiving and cheating homeowners,” he said.

“If you are looking for a reputable trader to carry out work on your property, I urge you to ask friends and family for recommendations, or use Checkatrade where local members are vetted by Trading Standards.”

English has had a string of complaints against him since 2013 – when he was then known as Paul Bagley – which prompted Suffolk Trading Standards involvement.

Among those were three previous prosecutions by Suffolk Trading Standards for failing to comply with laws while carrying out landscaping and block paving work in the county.

In September 2013 he was handed a suspended sentence for sub-standard work and misleading practice.

A year later he avoided jail a second time after conning a man out of £420 when he failed to turn up to replace a garage door.

In September 2015 he was jailed for six months after admitting four offences of misleading conduct, and has also previously had enforcement orders, fines and a community order.